US Defense Secretary, James Mattis announced on Thursday that he
would resign at the end of February, sending a letter to President Trump
saying he deserved a secretary “whose views are better aligned with
yours.”

The announcement came a day after the White House said the U.S. would
be withdrawing its troops from Syria, as well as reports it was also
considering a drawdown in Afghanistan. Both moves have been met with
opposition by Pentagon officials and members of the foreign policy
establishment.

In a striking resignation letter to Trump, Mattis signaled his
concern with the way Trump treated allies in NATO as well as rivals such
as China and Russia.

He wrote that his “core belief” is that U.S. strength is
“inextricably linked with the strength of our unique and comprehensive
system of alliances and partnerships.

My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed
about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and
informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. We must do
everything possible to advance an international order that is most
conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are
strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances.

Because you have a right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views
are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it
is right for me to step down from my position,” Mattis wrote.

The letter did not mention Trump and did not include statements
typically found in resignation letters about it having been an honor to
serve the president. It was addressed “Dear Mr. President,” and
concluded with a line about how it had been an honor to serve the nation
and “our men and women in uniform.”

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